SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) has returned to Hamazkaine Arsakh & Sophie Galstaun College (Galstaun College) for the fourth iteration of its popular #GalstaunGovernment program, utilising practical workshops to demonstrate the significant impact politics has on the day-to-day lives of Australians.
The program, first launched in 2018, is one of the core components of the peak public affairs body’s #ANCAUOutreach initiatives, and includes mock parliamentary debates on current issues, mock elections, advocacy role play, media role play and more.
Commencing on 6 June 2023, students from Galstaun College’s Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 cohorts participated over three weeks, in a variety of fun and engaging activities, including creating their own political parties, including party name and logo, and democratically electing a party Leader, Deputy Leader, and Ministers.
In week two, the Year 8 students conducted a live Parliamentary debate, debating the need to outsource the school's canteen, imitating the daily procedure in the Federal House of Representatives, whilst Year 9 and Year 10 created party promotional material and came up with three key initiatives their respective parties wanted to introduce at their school.
In week three, the Year 8 and Year 9 political parties engaged in a lively debate, with each political party trying to secure the support of their peers. The debate ended with an election whereby the winning Crowned Industries political party's Mia Kassis and Panos Krdanian’s Parliament of Galstaun Party (from Year 10) formed government.
ANC-AU Administrative Assistant Daniel Der Bedrossian, who led the program for the first time said, “The students of Galstaun College have shown themselves to be a pleasure to work with. They were engaged, enthusiastic and attentive. The debates, while heated at times, were extremely fun to watch.”
ANC-AU Executive Director Michael Kolokossian said, “This program plays a vital role in helping the student understand the nuances of Australian politics, emerging with a wealth of knowledge about the political system and its role in Australia.”
The Armenian National Committee of Australia extends its gratitude to Galstaun College Principal Mr Edward Demirjian and the school's staff for facilitating the program and its great success.
